12th Mar 2014 | Cheltenham Festival
Ryanair Chase: Al Ferof
Has returned to the sort of form that enabled him to win a Paddy Power Gold Cup with 11-8 on his back.
The Ryanair Chase is one of my favourite betting races of the Festival because of the distance. At 2m5f it falls between two stools; it doesn’t have the lustre of the Champion Chase or Gold Cup, but it does lend itself to course and distance specialists.
Al Ferof falls firmly into that category. He was an impressive winner of the Paddy Power Gold Cup back in 2012, a win that earned him a whopping rating of 172 from the Racing Post.
He’s had injury problems since but looked back to his best when winning at Ascot on his seasonal reappearance.
A third place in the King George is high quality form on ground plenty soft enough, whilst his stamina limitations were exposed in the Denman Chase at Newbury.
That defeat was no bad thing as it confirmed what we already knew; he needs good ground and the intermediate trip of 2m5f.
*Best Odds Guaranteed – Paddy Power
Back Al Ferof with Paddy Power as they are best price and offer Best Odds Guaranteed. If the starting price (SP) is bigger than the current price, you get paid at the bigger SP.
Odds correct at time of publishing: 15:27 12th Mar, 2014 but subject to change
